Petunia plant named ‘DANRAY1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Petunia  plant named ‘DANRAY1’ characterized by having a mounded growth habit; large in size, white-colored flowers; high floriferous rate; early to bloom with long bloom period; and suitable for patios and outdoor beddings.

Latin name of the Genus and Species of the claimed plant: Petunia sensuWijsman.

Variety denomination: ‘DANRAY1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia sensu Wijsman, hereinafter referredto by the cultivar name ‘DANRAY1’.

The new Petunia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The objective of the breeding program is to develop a newPetunia variety with a mounded plant habit and large inflorescence withunique coloration.

The new Petunia cultivar originated from a cross-made in a controlledbreeding program by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in 2006, in MoshavMishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female or seed parent is Petunia sensuWijsman ‘PE-1148’ (unpatented), and the male or pollen parent is Petuniasensu Wijsman ‘PE-65’ (unpatented). The new Petunia ‘DANRAY1’ wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia cultivar by vegetative cuttingswas first performed in April of 2007 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel,and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivarreproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘DANRAY1’ which in combination distinguishthis Petunia as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. mounded growth habit;    -   2. large in size, white-colored flowers;    -   3. high floriferous rate;    -   4. early to bloom with long bloom period; and    -   5. suitable for patios and outdoor beddings.

Plants of the new Petunia ‘DANRAY1’ differ from plants of the parents,Petunia sensu Wijsman ‘PE-1148’ (unpatented) and Petunia sensu Wijsman‘PE-65’ (unpatented) in the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Female Parent Male Parent New Cultivar ‘PE-1148’ ‘PE-65’Characteristic ‘DANRAY1’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Plant shape MoundedTrailing Mounded Plant size Height: About 30 Height: About 20 Height:About 30 cm cm cm Spread: About 40 Spread: About 40 Spread: About 40 cmcm cm Flower size Depth: About 4 Depth: About 3 Depth: About 4 cm cm cmDiameter: About Diameter: About Diameter: About 6.5 cm 5 cm 6 cm Flowercolor White Purple White Flower type Single Double Single Flowering timeEarly Late Early

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new Petunia ‘DANRAY1’ is Petunia sensuWijsman ‘DANCAS110’ (patented, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,288), in thecharacteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Comparison Cultivar New Cultivar ‘DANCAS110’ Characteristic‘DANRAY1’ (patented) Plant shape Mounded Mounded, bushy Plant sizeHeight: About 20 cm Height: About 25 cm Spread: About 40 cm Spread:About 50 cm Growth habit Vigorous Medium Flower size Depth: About 4 cmDepth: About 3 cm to 3.5 cm Diameter: About 6.5 cm Diameter: About 4 cmto 5 cm Flower color White Yellow

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Petunia cultivar ‘DANRAY1’ showing the colors as true as isreasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors inthe photographs may differ slightly from the color value cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘DANRAY1’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective a typical flowering plant of‘DANRAY1’ in a 13 cm pot, at 8 weeks after planting.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical flowers, buds and leaves of‘DANRAY1’ at 8 weeks after planting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Petunia ‘DANRAY1’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may varywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, andday length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

Plants of ‘DANRAY1’ are grown outdoors in a moderate climate, and grownindoors during the winter. Irrigation and fertilization are needed on aregular basis. For optimal growth, grow plants of ‘DANRAY1’ in fullsunlight. Plants of ‘DANRAY1’ are fully grown in 3 months when grown infull sunlight, and bloom all year-round in a moderate climate.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe the new Petunia ‘DANRAY1’as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart(R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately (time) 12:00 noon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.The age of the plant described is 8 weeks from planting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Petunia sensu Wijsman.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Petunia sensu Wijsman ‘PE-1148’            (unpatented).        -   Male or pollen parent.—Petunia sensu Wijsman ‘PE-65’            (unpatented).-   Optimal growth conditions:    -   -   Light intensities.—Full sunlight.        -   Temperature.—Day: 22° C. to 32° C. Night: 15° C. to 20° C.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerant to a low temperature of            about 5° C. and tolerant to a high temperature of about 40°            C.        -   Fertilization.—A balanced fertilizer with level N:P:K=5:3:8,            using 250–300 ppm Nitrogen.        -   Growth regulators.—Not necessary in Israeli climate.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tip cuttings of side shoots.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Easy to root; root from            cutting base.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 5 to 10 days at 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 14 days at 20° C.-   Plant:    -   -   General appearance and form.—Height: About 20 cm. Spread:            About 40 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Mounded.        -   Growth rate.—Fully grown plant in 3 months.        -   Branching habit and description.—Freely branching, typical            to Petunia species.        -   Flowering response.—Indifferent to day length.        -   Flowering season.—Year round in moderate climate.        -   Winter hardiness/weather tolerance.—Frost tender. Plants may            be damaged by temperatures below 5° C.        -   Lastingness of the individual bloom.—3 to 6 days.        -   Fragrance.—None.-   Stem description:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 20.        -   Length.—About 20 cm to 40 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.2 cm to 0.4 cm.        -   Strength.—Medium.        -   Branching.—Freely.        -   Texture.—Pubescent.        -   Internodes length.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.        -   Internodes and stem color.—Green, RHS 139A.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, sessile.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Length.—About 3 cm to 4 cm.        -   Width.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Glabrous. Under surface: Glabrous.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Immature leaf color.—Upper and Under Surfaces: Green, RHS            139A.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper and Under Surfaces: Green, RHS            139A.        -   Venation pattern: Pinnate.        -   Venation color.—Upper and Under Surfaces: Green, RHS 139D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flower longevity.—About 3 to 6 days.        -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 6.5 cm. Depth: About 4 cm.        -   Floral tube.—Diameter: 0.4 cm to 0.9 cm at the corolla            surface.        -   Flower shape/type.—Salverform.        -   Average number of flowers per lateral branch.—About 5 to 10.        -   Petals.—Number: 5; all 5 petals are united. Length: About 5            cm to 6 cm (from edge of the petal up to the base of floral            tube). Width: About 2.5 cm across. Shape: Corolla united            with 5 lobes and a long straight tube. Apex: Rounded            (Obtuse). Margin: Entire. Texture: Upper and Under Surfaces:            Glabrous. Color (when opening and when fully opened): Upper            and Under Surfaces: White, RHS N999D (RHS mini color            chart 2005) with white margin, RHS N999D.        -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Width: About            0.2 cm to 0.3 cm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Truncate. Margin:            Entire. Texture: Upper and Under Surfaces: Pubescent. Color:            Upper and Under Surface: Green, RHS 139A.        -   Bud.—Rate of opening: About 2 to 4 days. Shape: Tubular.            Length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Diameter: About 0.4 cm to            0.7 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Yellow-green, RHS 144B.        -   Peduncle.—Length: About 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 2            mm to 2.5 mm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Green, RHS 139C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 5. Length: About 2 cm. Color:            Yellow, RHS 11B. Anther: Shape Round. Length: About 1 mm.            Color: Yellow, RHS 11B. Filaments: Length: About 20 mm.            Color: White, RHS 155D. Pollen: Amount: Abundant. Color:            Yellow, RHS 11B. Pollination requirements: None.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistils: Quantity: 1. Length: About 20 mm. Color:            Green, RHS 139D. Stigma: Shape: Undulate. Width: About 1 mm.            Color: Green, RHS 139A. Style: Shape: Terete. Length: About            20 mm. Color: Green, RHS 139D. Ovary: Shape: Narrowly            Conical. Position: Superior. Length: About 4 mm. Width:            About 2 mm at the base. Color: Green, RHS 139D.-   Seeds:    -   -   Quantity per fruit.—About 200 to 400.        -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—About 0.5 mm.        -   Width.—About 0.5 mm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Black, RHS 202B.-   Fruit:    -   -   Number.—Few, when naturally pollinated.        -   Type.—Capsule.        -   Shape.—Ellipsoid.        -   Length.—About 9 mm.        -   Width.—About 6 mm.        -   Texture.—Glabrous.        -   Color.—Green, RHS 139D.-   Disease/pest resistance: Resistance to disease and pests common to    Petunia has not been tested on plant grown under commercial    conditions.-   Disease/pest susceptibility: Susceptibility to disease and pests    common to Petunia has not been observed on plant grown under    commercial conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Petunia have exhibited good    tolerance to draught, rain and wind; however, flowering may cease    during hot periods (temperatures above 45° C.). Low temperature    tolerance to 5° C.

1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘DANRAY1’, substantially asillustrated and described herein.